Month: September 2020

Forecasts for the weekend were for North-Easterly winds gusting over 20 knots but still warm despite being the second half of September. Great conditions for some brisk racing!
Saturday afternoon saw CCRC racing with (and against) Channel Sailing Club whose turn it was to organise the event for this year. They set up a WhatsApp group which added to the inter-boat discussion and announced a course of some 18 miles. Starting south Portsmouth and finishing near Cowes the course had only limited upwind legs though the significant tide was also against us for these legs adding to the challenge. Also added to the challenge was the wind which varied widely in both direction and strength. It was a terrific day to be on the water racing and then most gathered in Cowes for the evening.
Sunday morning was a CCRC race back to Chichester – so mostly against the wind but with the tide. Again it was a terrific race with a fresh breeze which rose and fell in strength and direction – one such sustained gust resulted in the first half of the fleet passing one side of the fort while the second half passed the other side. Then it was through the dolphin passage and some legs between the buoys in Hayling Bay before the finish at Chi. Another super day for a sail in the warm autumn sunshine.
CCRC won the team race against CSC and detailed results for this are on the programme page; the CCRC results for both days will be on the results page.
Sorry, for lack of pictures but I was too busy hanging on!

Sunday’s Bart’s Bash race saw warm and sunny weather with a gentle breeze enabling race with long legs out and back to the shipping channel buoys and plenty of opportunity to fly those downwind sails. A superb day to be out on the water and enjoying some sailing, racing against other members.

Intrepid was designated as PRO and RO for today’s Bramidge Trophy race between CCRC and CYC with the start also being a Rolling Start. I had a couple of courses envisaged as we headed out for the start with a wind forecast of 10-14 knots with gusts to 20 knots. As we left the harbour we had 18 knots of wind so I modified one course to be a bit longer – my goal was to give everyone a good long sail since many have managed too little sailing this year. Regrettably the wind soon dropped and my fear was that the race might not be finished in time or that many would choose to retire. Hence the decision to shorten – with Intrepid retiring to become the finish line boat. This was just as well as we soon had less than 5 knots of wind; some reporting much less. Nevertheless most of the 18 participants persevered and finished to which I say well done. Of course once most had finished the wind perked up again to 15 knots or so!
Nevertheless it was great to be out on the water in such lovely early autumn weather.
Don’t forget the charity race tomorrow – Bart’s Bash. Join in the fun and donate via https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/BartsBash2020.